November 2010

A Message from Dave Layton, Associate Vice President of Enrollment

I′m not addressing you today as the Associate Vice President of Enrollment of Geneva College, but rather as an alumnus of the institution. Like your sons and daughters are doing now, I once walked through the hallways and sat in the classrooms as I prepared for my life′s calling. My path was forever changed by the faculty who taught me - and I dare say, this is true for your students too.

Dr. Terri Williams taught the first class I attended at Geneva College, and had a tremendous impact on me. As a psychology instructor, she taught family and marriage class. She spoke to us, not above us, and used her energy and fun-loving spirit to share a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise. I started my college career at Geneva with a perspective that learning was fun, and I was ready to do more of it!

From that point on I sat in the classes of numerous professors who had a real love of teaching, an expertise in their field, and personal faith integrated into all they did. The more faculty members I came to know, both in and out of the classroom, the more I appreciated the excellence of a Geneva College education.

And today′s students are being taught by the same type of excellent faculty who once taught me. For example, our top-notch engineering faculty are well published leaders in their field. But they move well beyond the text books as they instruct their students. They mentor and lead students as they compete and excel in hands-on national intercollegiate competitions. This includes the Solar Splash boating championship, Robotics Competition, Steel Bridge Building competition and new Baja Competition in which students design, build, and race an all-terrain vehicle. It′s no wonder that our engineering program is distinctive in its Christian worldview and technical preparation. And it′s no wonder that our graduates have a 100% job placement rate over the last ten years.

With professors like Dr. Adel Aiken who is an expert in postmodernism and children′s literature, Dr. Karen Schmalz who passes along her expertise in special education, and other exceptional, Christ-centered faculty, the education department is stellar - and has the numbers to prove it. Our students have a 99% first-time pass rate for teacher certification in elementary education and 100% pass rate for special education certification (Praxis II).

I could write more about our dedicated and excellent faculty members in each and every department at Geneva - from Bible to music and from communication to chemistry. As you talk to your sons and daughters about their college experiences, you are likely to hear about the impact that their faculty are having on their lives. When God is recognized as the center of all truth and knowledge, and when faculty excel in their fields and have a passion to teach, amazing things happen. That was true when I was a student at Geneva College and it′s true for students today.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for Dr. Terri Williams, Dr. Paul Holland, Professor Betty Douglas and the many other Geneva faculty who had a powerful influence on me. God used them to help shape me into the person I am today. May God continue to use Geneva College and the people here to impact current and future generations of students.

"Knowing that my calling involves a threefold command of serving God, discovering who I am as His creation and serving others has really shaped my life here at Geneva."